Shooting Stars midfielder Olakunle Akala has expressed his excitement following his first goal in the colours of the Oluyole Warriors on Friday night, www.aclsports.com reports.
Akala, who found the back of the net in Shooting Stars’ tight win over Bendel Insurance in a matchday 13 clash in Ibadan, described the experience as special, expressing his desire to build on the milestone and deliver more for the Ibadan-based club.
“It is a special feeling for me. I hope to score more goals, and this is the beginning of more. I am happy to score in a game of that magnitude,” Akala told www.aclsports.com.
The former Kano Pillars player also attributed Shooting Stars’ recent improvement to better understanding among the players, renewed commitment, and the determination to correct their earlier disappointments, especially on the continent where they did not go past the first hurdle.
“I think the difference has been our understanding and commitment in the past few weeks because we want to make up for the earlier mistakes at the beginning of the season. After the continental, when we were knocked out, the confidence level in the squad dropped. But we have picked ourselves up, and we work very hard in training,” he disclosed.
Beyond his performances on the pitch, Akala also spoke warmly about his experience at Shooting Stars, acknowledging the reception he has received from the club’s supporters since arriving in Ibadan.
“Both supporters are amazing. I am grateful for the love I received in Kano, but I won’t lie to you; the support I have received at Shooting Stars has made me feel welcome, especially the energy from the fans. I love the atmosphere, and I am enjoying my stay in Ibadan,” he said.
With the season progressing, Akala has set his sights on a strong finish, making it clear that winning the NPFL title remains the ultimate objective for Shooting Stars.
“I aim to finish strongly in the league this season, especially by winning the league. It has been our ambition before the season started. We just have to do better than last season. I want to keep contributing more goals and assists and deliver better performances than what I produced on Friday. I know that with the togetherness that we have now, we can achieve our common goal at the end of the season,” Akala concluded.
Akala and Shooting Stars will head to defending champions Rangers International in their next league outing on matchday 14.
